Top 5 Tailgating Items for the 2022 Football Season 

Football is back! Tailgate like a pro this upcoming season with my favorite gear that your friends and family will love. With the first game of the pre-season happening on August 13th, it’s the perfect time to gather your tailgating gear and get ready for another exciting season of football. 

Top 5 Tailgating Items 

Portable Grill

A portable grill is a must for all of your tailgate parties! Tailgating and grilling go hand in hand so it’s important that you’ve got your portable grill ready to go. My favorite grill is this Magma Crossover Single Burner Firebox. The best thing about this grill is how portable it is (it’s only 26 pounds) and how much you can customize it. At its simplest, it's a cookstove that can be powered by either one-pound propane cylinders or 20-pound tanks. That alone is good for grilling brats and burgers, but if you really want to be the Master Chef, the brand offers add-ons that allow you to transform the stove into a grill, pizza oven, griddle, or plancha. 

Warm Blankets

We all know how cold Pittsburgh can get in the winter months, so packing an ultra-warm blanket for tailgating and bringing into the stadium is a must. My favorite brand Rumpl makes warm, durable, and weather-proof blankets branded for each NFL team. It also comes with a cape clip, so you can wear it while playing yard games and socializing. And provided it's not in its stuff sack, you're generally allowed to bring the blanket into stadiums. This is also a great gift for anyone who loves football in your life!

Easy-To-Use Canopy 

Whether the sky is blisteringly hot or dumping freezing rain on you, you're going to want a place to sit or stand that's out of the elements. My go-to tent is this one by Stoic. Measuring 10 x 10 feet, it's large enough for a carload or two of people to hang out underneath (along with all your food and gear). It's also quick to set up, is stable, and comes with a wheeled carrying bag for easy transport. 

A Sturdy Table

Often at tailgates, you'll see groups unloading bulky folding tables. While tables are essential for setting out your plates, utensils, cups, drinks, and foodstuffs (and maybe for providing your guests a place to put their plates other than their lap), those tables take up a lot of precious cargo space. Instead, consider this camp table from, Stoic. The fold-up top and collapsible legs make it packable and easy to transport—a brilliant solution for a tailgate party. 

A Cooler Big Enough for Anything

Last but certainly not least, one of the most important things is purchasing a cooler! A sturdy cooler is crucial for keeping your perishable foods at a safe temperature and your beers frosty. My favorite is the Yeti cooler. This cooler is large enough to hold an elk, so surely it'll be roomy enough to handle your group's snack and beverage needs. 

Now that I’ve told you my top 5 must-have tailgating gear, you are guaranteed to have the best party at the tailgate! So gather up your friends and family and make a plan for the first Steelers home game of the season on September 18th. If you’re looking for a home within walking distance of the stadium, connect with me and I can customize your home search so that you can hear the cheers from your front porch.